Blak

atures. "It's my fault," he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. "Everything. I hurt her. I betrayed her. She had every right to be angry." He stepped closer

ing you!" My stepfather nodded vigorously in agreement, while my mother wrung her hands, torn between

eny everything. We can say it was a misunderstanding. We can rebuild. Just... g

pierced the air. "Rebuild? You mean rebuild on the ashes of everythi

led with malicious triumph, locked onto mine. "Look at her, David," she sneered, gesturing to me with a dismissive flick of

adrenaline momentarily overriding the pain in my head. "You plan

s weak, and you were... well, you were just in the way. Soon, I'll be Mrs. Mcconnell, and this entire empir

oman. With a sudden surge of strength, I lurched forward, my hand connecti

cker of cunning crossed her face. She stumbled backward, clutching her stomach with re

hands gently supporting her, his face a mask of terror. "Briana! Are you okay? Is the baby alright?" His eyes, f

mine, a triumphant gleam visible through her feigned distress. "She tried to hurt me, Dav

e words raw and ragged. "You pu

h! Don't make things worse!" He left Briana, walking towards me, h

. "What about me, David? What about the wife you promise

unexpected, and it sent my head reeling. My cheek burned

dark with a rage I had never seen directed at me. "Abbey, I

trayal in his eyes. It was all too much. "Get out," I whispered, my voice tre

e remorse, but it was quickly overshadowed by a desperate plea. "Abbey, please. Think about th

Don't worry, David," she purred, her voice regaining its composure. "She'll come to her senses. She always does." She flashed me a

aying slightly, a silent declaration of her win. David hesitated for a moment, his eye

vows, the quiet evenings, the way he used to look at me. All of it, a meticulously crafted illusion. Every shared laugh, every tender touch, every promise – it was all a lie

ted, and Gertrude Mcconnell simply stared at the door where David and Briana had vanished, her